Metrolink fund here in Moorpark "PIF"

Just wanted to let you know that my daughter (Taylor Williams) & her partner, (Alicia Carter) had their first PAY IT FORWARD event. J

It was a great success! ~ For this first event they raised $1100 for the Metrolink fund here in Moorpark.
 
It will go to the families affected by the accident.
 
The kids in the group range from 15-17yrs old and it looked like they all had a great time. I know they felt really good about their efforts and are looking forward to the next event.
 
They created their club at school- “PAY IT FORWARD” at Moorpark High School.
They have approx 30 kids involved in the effort.
 
Thanks again for your words of wisdom~
 
Lisa Mia

‘The Boardwalk Relay For Hunger"

I wanted to thank you for my recent shipment of PIF bracelets.  Although, they’re JUST ABOUT GONE! Joe Hughes and I played at a fundraiser Saturday called ‘The Boardwalk Relay For Hunger’ which was held in Asbury Park NJ.  The race and party afterwards was held at the legendary ‘Stone Pony’ in Asbury Park (home of Bruce Springsteen etc).  We made a point to talk about PIF and the bracelets and before you knew it our publicist Carole couldn’t hand them out quick enough!! We gave away a few hundred and everyone loved the concept!
I’m attaching a few photos…. (a group shot, myself and Joe from left to right)
Thanks and we’ll stay in touch!

Danny Rongo 

Make Other Smile by "PIF"

Hi there,
 
Here is my story and how I live everyday… I was a single mom raising my son on my own, struggling and just getting by… we didn’t have much and counted on support from our local community and churches to barely get by… I had the pleasure of reading the book then eventually seeing the movie “pay it forward” and thought to myself… this is how it should be… needless to say, I started to pay it forward any chance I could from free babysitting for neighbors who couldn’t afford a sitter, to cooking for sick friends… what little I could do I did… trying to pay it forward for the help I was getting from strangers.
 
That was about 8 years ago… I am a successful Director of Nursing/ Branch manager in the Houston area now… I still have the opportunity to pay it forward every chance I can and my most recent experience was with one of my employees… she too is now a single mom with a young child and just getting by… she recently saved enough money to get her own apartment but had no furnishings or necessary items we all need to live on our own… how I remember those days of struggling… I cleaned out my house and gave her all the extra linens, kitchen items, furniture, a car that was just sitting in our driveway needing some minor repair but a lot more reliable than her present one… I think I received the biggest hug I have ever gotten from it and was happy to do it… the minute she said she would pay me back I told her no you won’t! “Pay it forward” everyday you can…
 
This last week we had a major hurricane and most of my homebound patients were without electricity for sometime…. She walked into my office and told me “I am paying it forward”. I was overjoyed she was able to feel that sense of fulfillment I do every time I pay it forward. She made about 20 hot plates of food and delivered them to our patients who have been living on MRE’s and cold items for a week along with water and some basic items that they may have been running out of (toilet paper, bread, PBJ, etc…). She also said that she has a friend in the same situation as she is and she is giving her free babysitting as well…The smile on her face said it all and she told me she will always be thankful for the help I gave her and will always pay it forward.
 
Sincerely,
 
Anonymous

One Life Touches Another When Your "PIF"

Hello,

I just want to thank you so much for sending me and my school those pay it forward bracelets.  They have been such a hit and I can really see how they are positively effected all of the kids at our school.  Pay it forward is such a great message and I know that my school is trying really hard to spread it!  It also relates to the amazing law of influence which we are taught at school which states that:  "One life touches another, and potentially both lives are changed;

One life touches another, and potentially the entire world is changed."

Thank you again so much, all of your hard work has really made a difference!

Rivers Collegiate "PIF"

First off, I want to thank you for the Pay It Forward Bracelets. This is the start of good things.  We also have a grade 12 student who has created a blog.  payitforwardatrci.blogspot.com.   I then took an idea off TV and twisted it a little so it would work in our school.  We have made numbered business cards that I want to get laminated.  The plan is to have an assembly or have the teacher give them out in home room.  The student will get a bracelet and they pay it forward by taking a business card and follow the instructions on the back which are:
        1.  The student does a good deed for someone and gives them their numbered card.
        2.  They log onto the blog and click on their card number and describe the good deed they did.
        3.  The person who received the card then does a good deed for someone else and gives that person the card
        4.  They go onto the blog and describe their good deed and so on......
The student at anytime can go onto the blog and trace their card.  who knows where their card will end up.

New to RCI this year are Peer Helpers. We have 4 boys grade 12 and 10 grade 11 & 12 girls who joined.  They will work with grade 7 & 8 boys and girls being a positive role model.  They can play basketball, football or do crafts.  They will be in the SSF room supervised.  Jo and I did presentations about the program called Connex to the 7 & 8's and they are very keen.  They will meet once a cycle for half a class.  Jo and I went to the Dollar Store and purchased some supplies.  Now our plan is to have the students make and/or paint these crafts and even make jewelry which we will then sell for $1.00.  This will be the students way of paying it forward.  They will make the craft and the money made will be used to buy canned goods for the Xmas Food Hampers.  We are also collecting food coupons (another idea off TV I got - Oprah.....) and we will use the coupons and money at our local BigWay to purchase the canned goods.

One more thing we are doing - there are a ton more but we haven't started them yet - is that I contacted a mom who's student attends our school.  I asked her how much it would cost to purchase 250 pink T-shirts.  She gave a quote with and without screenprinting.  She then asked me what they are for.  I explained our Pay It Forward campaign and she was very excited.  I phoned her back and said we will go ahead with the plain T-shirts and no screenprinting as the cost would increase .60 cents per shirt.  She said to me "would you mind if I donated the screen printing".  I couldn't believe it. So next week our school will be receiving 250 pink T-shirts with Pay It Forward on the back in a dark gray color.  Amazing isn't it.........Our plan is for the school to get them on Dec 19th before we go to Hamiota for our annual Xmas Classic Hockey Game.  During the year we will announce at random - tomorrow is pink T-shirt day so everyone wear their Pink T-shirt for Pay It Forward Day.  I don't have pictures of them yet, but I will send them on when I do. Student Council is absorbing about 3/4 of the cost of the shirts (thank heavens) and our Pay It Forward budget will cover the rest.  They are very excited as well and this is top secret from the students.

Patti Kent
SSF
Rivers Collegiate

Sea Scout Ship 30 "PIF"

Dear Pay It Forward

I am the committee chairman of a recently formed Sea Scouts ship chartered in March 2008. We have ten venturer scout and we were chartered by the Westchetser - Putnam Council of the Boy Scouts of America, in March 2008, the first Sea Scout crew in our council.
 
We have some boats that are not the best but we have been using them this summer. This past week we received a message from Liberty Flotilla that a boat was available for donation to a Sea Scout crew. The owner had sailed her for over two decades with his wife and two daughters and for the past six years has rebuilt her the from the hull up. Unfortunately this gentleman, has recently been diagnosed with a medical problem and has surgery scheduled next week.
 
On September 21, 2008 we met with him and he gave our scouts his "dream boat". She is a thirty foot custom designed and built sea cruising sailboat completely restored by him, with love.
 
After spending his afternoon sailing with our scouts on the Hudson River, and upon his gift to us, he confided in me that this was the happiest day of his life.
 
My son asked me to forward this information to your foundation. He believes that the act of this man and the lesson we all learned today is what your foundation hopes to instill in all of us.
 
We will be praying for him and his family and would like to wear your bracelets in his honor, to keep him in our minds through his difficult times and to guide us in our lifetimes.
 
We have ten scouts, ten adults, and our new friend is married with two daughters.

If possible please forward enough bracelets to be distributed accordingly.
 
Thank you.

John Quartucio
Sea Scout Ship 30

West Boca High School

It all started when we received those white and Purple Pay it Forward bracelets. About a year ago.... the rest is history. The enthusiasm from P.I.F. became my enthusiasm...and in turn "We brought up 150 + students at West Boca High School as PAY IT FORWARD

Bracelets fiends!!" They were just junior and senior West Boca High School English students at the time, but they became "much more".

I have students now out in the college world, reporting back to me some stories of how they paid it forward. My juniors from last year are keeping up the PAY it Forward concept to this day as seniors, giving away their bracelets.... to other staff and teachers, and parents and whomever...their generosity overwhelms me and their thoughtfulness

Completely astounds me!!

I see the white Pay it forward bracelets popping up everywhere and I have to ask people who they got them from.  "The bracelets were greeted with enthusiasm”. As the foundation web page sums it up...At West Boca High School, the P.I.F. enthusiasm... became my enthusiasm, and the student's enthusiasm and it has created PAY IT FORWARD FRENZY!    

Sincerely:

Mrs. Diane Donney

Language Arts Teacher

West Boca Raton High School

Paying it Forward @ 7-11

Today I was in a Seven-11 just getting a quick drink and snack. I went up to pay with my card and they declined It. I was overwhelmed with embarrassment when a man walked up behind me swiped his card and gave me this bracelet. I think the foundation you guys have started is great & is more helpful then you will ever know.

-Samantha

Ukraine "PIF"

Thanks a lot for the PAY IT FORWARD bracelets!

I’ve got them yesterday by mail- it was so quick- I’m happy! And today my mum already showed the film at school for the last year pupils (it’s school № 13 Mukachevo, Ukraine). She also brought the bracelets with her to give them- all the others were interested what are they wearing and why- so that they can tell other people about the movement and the conception.

Also we had guests at home when we received a parcel- they asked what it was and we explained alitle- and when we have our disk with a film back - we promised to give them to watch it.  

Also our friend has a relative who works as a psychologist at school- she plans to show the film at school. I want her to take the bracelets as well for the pupils!!!!!!

 I know that’s not a lot- that I need to do good and great things myself... I’m trying.... Just don’t like to tell usually....

 Lots of thanks and love,

 Lana Shchedrin

“Spartan Spirit Forward”

We received our “pay it forward” wristbands this week. They are fantastic! Suddenly, the “Pay it forward” program at our high school (which we call “Spartan Spirit Forward”) is all the buzz. Everyone wants a wristband and wants to know how they c an “earn” one.
 
 I was at a meeting this morning at the high school to discuss my son, who is a junior and has special needs. The principal of the school was at the meeting. I noticed about half way through that she was wearing a “Pay it Forward” wristband!  
 
My 6th grader took a few to the elementary school and his teacher just called me at work. She said that the kids are all talking about them and she wanted to know how to start her own program at the elementary school!
 
Thanks again – this is great stuff!
 
Linda

Planting the "PIF" Seed....

My company sponsored our day of paying it forward by giving some teams a sum of money and asking them to spend it on strangers however we wanted to.  A colleague and I decided that gift certificates to a local bookstore would be nice because everyone should love to read.  Then we went to the local hospital and wandered around the emergency room waiting areas, maternity wards, cafeteria, and surgery waiting room.  We gave them mostly to children or young adults (some older folks as well) and told them that we didn't work for the bookstore, we just wanted them to accept this nice deed from a stranger.  When asked why we were doing this, we simply replied "We have hope that this will inspire others to do the same.... pay it forward."  The impact was likely not as immediate or large as it could have been with more effort, but I think we planted little PIF seeds in their heads.  Humans can be selfless at times, and we are all in agreement that we just want to make the world a nicer place.
Company:  Anonymous

Contributors:  Jenny and Kelly

West Boca Raton High School

PEOPLE LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT PAYING IT FORWARD!! I recently started a High School Club @ West Boca Raton High School simply  called the PAY IT FORWARD CLUB!! At our first meeting we had 25 members with 15 more signing up earlier because they couldn't stay for the meeting....now as one week has passed, we have over 60 members...with many more telling me just to remember they are there in spirit because they have football, or cheerleading practice or have to be at work after school.  Also, we recently started a FACEBOOK page to try to keep the club updated during the week,,,,well, as these things go....one member can invite their friends and family to the facebook club page....and to our complete astonishment, in 48 hours, we now have OVER 250 PAY IT FORWARD CLUB: WEST BOCA facebook members...The people that joined our facebook club page ACTUALLY  "" PAID it FORWARD ""  by involving their friends and family in the effort to promote PAYING IT FORWARD around their various communities!!!   ~Mrs.Donney  West Boca Raton High School

"PIF" in all ways Possible!

Hello,

I wanted to share my story about a close friend who recently had been 

arrested on an outstanding warrant.  Many of my friends balked at the 

fact that he had lied about his identifying information, and told me I 

should let the legal system take care of him and go on with my life.  

However, all of the people who knew him well believed he had been

wrongfully accused.

My friend promised me that if I would bail him out of jail, he would get 

back in contact with his family, go back to the state where the warrant 

was issued,and turn himself in.  He had come to a point in his life where he wanted to face the music.

I signed the bond and paid the bail, and told him, that once his name is 

cleared, he cannot pay me back, that he has to find someone who is in 

troubleand pay it forward.  My friend Jon is going to turn himself in this week and needs your positive energy and prayers.

Please send me a PIF wristband so that I can send it to his family.  At 

times, to assume accountability is harder than paying a debt.

Amy

PAWS and "PIF"

For my Pay It Forward project I did many two things. I helped

make jewelry to sell, and the money we made would go to an orphanage in

China. I also helped out at PAWS by playing with the animals. Or feeding

them and helping clean cages.  It feels really good to do a good deed

for someone or something.

For making jewelry to sell it was fun to do and it makes you

feel good when you do something nice. Instead of doing stuff that won't

help anything. I chose to do this because a lot of the orphanages in

China or horrible. There are over 15 million orphans in China. Most of

them are healthy young girls, abandoned due to China's one child per

family law. 

When you donate money it makes grants to give to families who

want to adopt, but can't because they can't pay. A lot of times families

want younger children. So what happens to the older children is they

stay there for a long time, then when they turn eighteen they are adults

and go out of the orphanage with no one. Most of them end up living on

the street.

The other one I did was help out at PAWS. They always need

people to help. Like bringing towels, cleaning the cages and, just

playing with them. The animals there are unwanted dogs and cats in our

community. A lot more people should help out doing different things.

Paying it forward. 

"PIF" and Feeding Cats!

My name Is Austin Williams, I am 12 years old going into the seventh grade. My story isn't the normal one submitted.  I'm going to tell first what was done for me then what I will do to pay it forward.
 
The kind deeds that were done for me are as follows.
 
In the fourth grade, 2 years ago I was roller skating, when I tripped on the bumper on the front of the roller skates.  I broke my arm. Immediately I got up and skated over to the teacher, and when I showed her my arm she screamed and almost fainted.  While we waited for the ambulance, the girl at the gift counter gave me a free pair of sunglasses and two free admission tickets that was the first deed.  When the ambulance came we drove through the park and my teacher came with and waited in the waiting room with me until my mom came, that's the one that was biggest to me.  But when we were in the ambulance the paramedic asked me if I wanted the siren on I said yes, and that was
the third thing.  The fourth and final thing was that the man at the teller desk telling jokes to make me feel better, even though his jokes were pretty bad I laughed anyway because I would laugh at anything at that point.
 
Now I will tell you about the thing I'm going to do to pay it forward.
 
I've been feeding my neighbors cat for a while now.  It's actually a very elaborate procedure in which I have to pull the toys from under the couch, mush up the wet food, put 1/2 the can in the dish, then give it dry food.  That's on all the Saturday and Sunday mornings from the end of school until Labor Day.  You must be thinking well you must be getting paid for this right?  that's were the good deed comes in.  I'm going to turn down the pay,  which is about 45-60 dollars, and take her by surprise.

"PIF" Makes you FEEL GREAT!

About a week before my summer camp started, one of our family’s best friends, Andy, returned from a business trip to find his house had caught on fire.  It just so happened that I was spending the night before camp at his dad’s house, who lives about 10 minutes away from Andy.  So my dad drove up there, said good-bye, and I got settled.  But I thought, Andy could probably use some help with the house.  I asked him if we could drive over there, and he said yes.  
 
If you saw the house, you couldn’t help but fell sorry for him. He told me that he wanted to move everything out that he wanted to keep.  We took out everything from dressers and chairs to beds and table.  It was long and hard work, but inside, I had a great feeling of kindness.  As we drove off to camp the next day, I couldn’t help wondering what Andy would do to pay it forward. 

Gabe from Glenfield Middle School "PIF"

For my "PIF" project, I decided to donate books to my local library. I donated five large boxes of hardcover books and one audio book. I was assisted by four other sources donating about ten books each. The rest was from my house. I decided to donate to the library mostly because of the fact that I have taken so  much out of the library in the ten years that I have lived here. The donation served as a token of my thanks.
 
Sincerely,
 
Gabe Weisbuch
Glenfield Middle School

12 Years Old and "PIF"

Hello.  I'm a twelve year old kid named Jake Erichson.  I have a very large amount of stuffed animals so I decided to give some of them away to kids in less wealthy families.  I'm giving around 30 away.  I think they will give these kids happiness and love. These kid's parents are probably working all day and so these kids need to receive love and they also need something to give love to.  I hope that I'm giving them a best friend forever and that they will love these stuffed animals back. I gave them to the local food pantry which will give the stuffed animals to their recipients.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jake Erichson

“The Friends of Anderson Park”

I live on Parkside Street, which is across the street from Anderson Park. Some people may think that living across from a park has got to be pretty weird, with the people right there. But actually, it’s really great. For the past two or three years, an or organization called “The Friends of Anderson Park”-which me and my family fully support-has used donated money to plant trees and fix up the park for the community, making Anderson Park a better place for everyone. One thing that this organization had donated is a beautiful triangle garden at the entrance to the park near the train station. But, in the last few years it had been there, it has become overrun with weeds. I knew, to help the park and its many visitors, I should weed the triangle garden to Pay it Forward. At first, I was nervous about getting weird looks from people. What really took me off guard was that many people just came over and said “Thank you.”  One woman, Lisanne Renner, even sent my mom an email that said:“It was really nice to see your daughters weeding the entrance to Anderson Park on my way to work this morning. More than a hundred people pass that triangle every day, so I imagine your girls brightened a lot of days just a bit….”

It made me feel like I had purpose, and just made me feel good. The Pay it Forward bracelet had almost been like a lead weight on my wrist. But I now realize that Paying it Forward not only helps someone else, it helps you. Having people come up to you, and tell you that you’re doing a good job, whether it is weeding or anything else, makes your spirits soar.
 
The triangle garden looks so much better today, and I hope to keep my park happy in the years to come.
 
Beth Connors :-) 

PAWS and "PIF"

For Pay it Forward, I volunteered at PAWS, a local animal shelter for cats and dogs. Since you must be over eighteen to help with The dogs, I helped with all of the stray, abandoned, dumped, and unwanted cats. There were few kittens, but they were old enough to eat cat food, so I didn't bottle feed them, but I did help with other cats. Most of them weren't treated well, or they were dumped on PAWS' doorstep, so I played with them and made them friendlier.  Since some of the older cats were abused, sometimes they just wanted to be petted and rubbed. I also helped feeding them and brushing them.  I actually feel really happy about working with these cats, because nearly all of them are depressed. They are locked in cages while people look in on them and then move on to adopt cute little kittens.  I love cats, and I feel as though I made a difference, no matter how small it is.
 
Sincerely,
 
Catherine Foley

Jack is "PIF" all the time!

My name is Jack and this summer, I did two thoughtful things for Pay It Forward. The first one I did was for a friend and then I did something for my town.
 
The first one was at my sleepaway camp. It was my second year there and I was in the oldest junior boys cabin. Most of the guys in my cabin had never been there before. I showed them around and became friends with them. However, the next day, Ian, a boy in my cabin became homesick. For the next few days, he cried a lot and wanted to go home. I felt sorry for him and decided to help him. I told him how I made the day go fast, but still have fun and enjoy the activities. By the end of the week, Ian wasn't homesick and I was happy for him.
 
The second task I did was in my town. Me and my friend, Teddy were hanging out at his house when his mom came in from a walk. She told us she saw trash throughout a park in our town. We then decided to clean it. It took us almost two hours for us to clean up most of the trash. Most of the trash was on the baseball field and we didn't understand why they didn't use the trash can.

Feeling Inspired to "PIF"

Watching the movie inspired me to pay it forward everyday
 
One thing I do to pay it forward is every year since I was eight I donate by birthday presents to a good cause  Last year I donated my presents to a children's hospital. It feels really good to do this and every time they ask me if there is anything they can do for me. All I said is do some thing nice for someone else.  I am now twelve and still continue to do it. I hope my story was inspiring for you to help someone in need and just tell them to pay it forward or do something nice for someone else.
 
Sincerely,
 
Max Rosen

Get Well Cards and "PIF"

I am doing *Pay It Forward* for a school project. We were supposed to do something out of the ordinary for other people/person, so they can do something nice for another person and Pay It Forward for someone else.
 
What I decided to do was make Get Well cards with little gifts in them for kids in the St. Barnabus hospital in New Jersey. I have made 25 cards. I didn't make them all on my own; I had friends and family make a few because I wanted to have as many as possible.
 
My cousin, Alex inspired me to make cards for kids because she was in the hospital for a long time because she had a brain tumor. She was only 5 years old. She is much better than before but she still struggles to this day.
 
My first idea was to read to kids in the hospital, but they told me I had to be 14 in order to do that. When I came up with the idea of making cards, I thought it would be a real pain because it would take up a lot of my summer. However, I felt good because I was helping others and paying it forward.
 
Sophia

"PIF" at Summer Camp!

This summer, I went to a sleep away camp. My entire cabin (about eight girls, including the counselors) was very nice to me and created a safe environment. On the first day, one of the girls was homesick just like me. She was feeling sad and lonesome. I was also feeling like that, so that evening I invited her to come up to my bunk so that we wouldn’t have to be alone at night. We both felt better, and less alone.  One night, later in the session, my new friend couldn’t get to sleep because she hadn’t brought some essential items to camp, such as a pillow, a book and a night reading light.  I offered her my stuffed animal to use as a pillow, and I loaned her my book and light.  She really appreciated it, and we became good friends.  We still stay in touch and hope to see each other again next summer.
 
Lindsay

Doing What You Can....

Yes, my story is short.  I gave $300 to a friend to pay her electric bill.  She lives with her daughters and son-in-law.  I really don't have money to lend, but I know once your electricity is shut off, very soon you are out of your dwelling, as well. We had both seen the movie "Pay It Forward" and mutually agreed that that is what she should do.  Your bracelets are a great idea.  

Mary C. Dare